“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NLT)

According to the dictionary

Fear is defined as an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

Some synonyms: terror, fright, fearfulness, horror, alarm, panic, agitation, trepidation, dread, consternation, dismay, distress.

What are you afraid of?

No matter what you are afraid of, God promises to be there to help you! The good news is that the Bible has a lot to say about fear. In fact, the Bible says, “don’t be afraid”, 365 times! One for each day of the year! So, if you struggle with fear, you can read and apply one every day!

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 NASB)

A few years ago, when I was going through a particularly rough time, a friend said to me, “How are you doing?”

I answered, “Okay, I guess, under the circumstances!”

He then said, “What are you doing under there!?”

I laughed, at the time. But, as the years have passed, I have come to realize that there was a great truth in that simple statement made by my friend, so long ago. I don’t have to remain “under any circumstance” because of Christ living in me, and also because of the many Bible promises that cover every possible thing!

One scripture passage says, “they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11 NKJV).

Notice that they overcame their adversary two ways:

1) By the Blood of the Lamb (what Jesus did for them on the cross)

2) By what they professed with their mouth (they testified)

So, no matter what negative “circumstance” comes your way, you can victoriously rise above it by standing firmly on God’s Word, and by saying boldly and confidently, “I am an overcomer because of what Jesus has done for me! And, greater is He (Jesus) who is in me, than he (the devil) who is in the world! Therefore, I am an overcomer!”

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10 NIV)

“God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” (1 Cor. 1:27b NKJV)

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31NIV)

SELF-CONTROL – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23 NIV)

Jesus promises that if you abide (remain) in Him you will produce this kind of spiritual fruit as a direct result. (John 15:4)

Self-control is the ninth of the nine fruits of the spirit listed in this passage. Each one is a promise!

Self-control defined

Self-control: the ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations.

synonyms: self-discipline, restraint, self-possession, self-command, willpower, composure.

Self-control is often paired with “sober-mindedness” (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; Titus 2:2; 1 Peter 4:7), and in several places the language of “self-control” applies especially to the mind. Mark 5:15 and Luke 8:35 characterize the healed demoniac as “clothed and in his right mind.” Paul uses similar language to speak of being in his right mind (2 Corinthians 5:13), as well as not being out of his mind (Acts 26:25). And, Romans 12:3 exhorts every Christian “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,” but to exercise a form of self-control: thinking “with sober judgment.”

Bible verses about self-control

“but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled.” (Titus 1:8 NASB)

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-9 NASB)

GENTLENESS – “But the fruit of the Spirit love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23 NIV)

Jesus promises that if you abide (remain) in Him you will produce this kind of spiritual fruit as a direct result. (John 15:4)

Gentleness is the eighth of the nine fruits of the spirit listed in this passage. Each one is a promise!

Gentleness defined

Gentleness: the quality or state of being gentle; especially mildness of manners or disposition.

Synonyms: meekness, carefulness, caution, kindness, tenderness

Gentleness, also translated “meekness,” does not mean weakness. Rather, it involves humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, restrained behavior toward others. The opposites of gentleness are anger, a desire for revenge, and self-aggrandizement.

Two Bible verses about gentleness

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Eph. 4:2 NIV)

“Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.” (Phil. 4:5 NASB)

FAITHFULNESS – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23 NIV)

Jesus promises that if you abide (remain) in Him you will produce this kind of spiritual fruit as a direct result. (John 15:4)

Faithfulness is the seventh of the nine fruits of the spirit listed in this passage. Each one is a promise!

Faithfulness defined

Faithfulness: reliable, steadfast and unwavering.

Synonyms: loyal, true, constant, fast, steadfast, staunch.

God is faithful!

Faithfulness is an essential part of who God is (Psalm 89:8; Hebrews 13:8). In His faithfulness, God protects us from evil (2 Thessalonians 3:3), sets limits on our temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13), forgives us of sin (1 John 1:9), and sanctifies us (1 Corinthians 1:9; Philippians 1:6).

Faithfulness is a gift from God. When we receive Christ as Lord, the Holy Spirit indwells us and brings the blessings of love, joy, peace and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22). The fullness of these blessings depends on walking with God and yielding to His Spirit. We should be faithful to read and abide by God’s Word and to seek the Lord in prayer (Psalm 1:1-2; Ephesians 6:18).

Two Bible verses about faithfulness

“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deut. 7:9 NASB)

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Heb. 10:23 ESV)

GOODNESS – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23 NIV)

Jesus promises that if you abide (remain) in Him you will produce this kind of spiritual fruit as a direct result. (John 15:4)

Goodness is the sixth of the nine fruits of the spirit listed in this passage. Each one is a promise!

Goodness defined

In Scripture goodness always involves particular ways of behaving. Because God is good, he is good to his people; when people are good they behave decently toward each other, based on God’s goodness to them. Moses’ invitation to Hobab expresses this emphasis: “Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel” (Num. 10:29 NIV). The general biblical words for “good/goodness” include this idea of right behavior, although the idea is often expressed by means of a more specific term like “upright/uprightness” or “righteous/righteousness.”

God’s goodness appears most clearly in his dealings with people. He is not only good in general, but he is good to us (Psalm 23:6; 68:10; 73:1; 119:65; 145:9; Lam. 3:25; Luke 6:35; Rom. 2:4; 11:22; Eph. 2:7; Titus 3:4). God’s goodness is a bedrock truth of Scripture. His goodness is praised in the psalms ( 25:8 ; 34:8 ; 86:5 ; 100:5 ; 118:1 ; 136:1 ; 145:9 ). Jesus affirms the Father’s goodness when speaking to the rich young ruler ( Matt 19:17 ; Mark 10:18 ; Luke 18:19 ). In 1 Peter 2:3, Peter echoes the language of Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good!”

Human goodness is modeled on divine goodness (Matt 5:48). For human beings goodness involves right behavior, expresses itself in kindness and other praiseworthy qualities, includes avoiding evil, and springs from the inner person.

Two Bible verses about goodness

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalms 23:6 KJV)

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10 ESV)

KINDNESS – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)

Jesus promises that if you abide (remain) in Him you will produce this kind of spiritual fruit as a direct result. (John 15:4)

Kindness is the fifth of the nine fruits of the spirit listed in this passage. Each one is a promise!

Kindness defined

Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

synonyms: kindheartedness, warm-heartedness, affection, warmth, gentleness, concern, care; consideration, helpfulness, thoughtfulness, unselfishness, selflessness, compassion, sympathy, understanding, bigheartedness, benevolence, friendliness, hospitality.

Divine Kindness: God’s kindness is found throughout Scripture. It is manifest in what is called “common grace.” God is kind to all he has made (Psalm 145:9), even when they are ungrateful and wicked (Luke 6:35; cf. Matt 5:4). His kindness is intended to lead to repentance, not to rejection of him (Rom 2:4). God’s kindness is manifest in the full salvation that comes through Christ (1 Peter 2:3). Our salvation comes from the kindness of God (Eph. 2:7-8), and it is through continuing in his kindness that we are saved (Rom 11:22).

Two scripture verses about kindness

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Col. 3:12 NIV)

“In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:7 NIV)

FORBEARANCE – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23 NIV)

Jesus promises that if you abide (remain) in Him you will produce this kind of spiritual fruit as a direct result. (John 15:4)

Forbearance is the fourth of the nine fruits of the spirit listed in this passage. Each one is a promise!

Forbearance defined (Greek: anoché, “a holding back”)

Forbearance: suspense or delay (of punishment), patience. Patient self-control; restraint and tolerance, “forbearance from taking action.”

Synonyms: tolerance, patience, resignation, endurance, fortitude, stoicism.

Forbearance verses

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-3 KJV)

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Col. 3:12-15 KJV)